Correcting spring aligning spacer ring



Sept. 16, 1952 5, ox 2,610,847

CORRECTING SPRING ALIGNING SPACER RING Filed Aug. 21, 1951 I N VEN TOR. EPf/WVE/f B. /"'o x Patented Sept. 16, 1952 PATENT- OFFICE oomtnc'rmesPemaAtm-Nmar emcee RING; I

I Brenner Fox, SanAntoni'o llen. .ApplicatiomAugustm, 1951, SerialfNo.:242.,860: 5

The invention, relates to: correcting-1 spring aligner. spacer ringsfOlZ' automobiles; andlother similar vehicles; machines, and: the like. i 7

One important object of this invention. is.- the prodnctionofia; simple and efiicient spacer of material thickness which is adapted to fit into engagement witlithe: end' ofJa; supporting coil spring for the purpose ofreturning. a supported vehicle body to a selected height or to.its.original-.height, after thesupporting springhas'become sagged through use;

A further object of this invention is thaproductionz ot a. correcting springzaligningspacer ring whichis adapted to extend into and" abut the end ofa vehicle body supporting coil. spring, and. is ofa selected. thickness; to' -return: a; supportedibodyx to a correctheightand compensate for the sag in the springwhich has occurred through use and to thereby bring the supported body back to its proper original alignment.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear throughout the following specification and claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the spacer ring;

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view thereof;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional view;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional view showing a series of rings in stacked relation.

By referring to the drawing, it will be seen that It designates the rigid ring-like body formed of metal which is of substantial selected thickness to compensate for the usual or anticipated sag of a body supporting spring of a selected type. The body I is provided with a deep circumferential channel or inset groove I l in its upper face defining an outer ring l2 and an inner rim I3. A plurality of radiating reinforcing ribs l4 extend transversely and vertically between the rims l2 and I3 and are located within the channel or groove l l. Each rib I4 is provided with a central vertical post l which preferably is circular in cross-section for decorative as well as for reinforcing reasons. These ribs M are spaced. circumferentially within the channel II, as shown in Figure 1. The structure above described provides a body of substantial thickness, which is light in weight and at the same time is reinforced by the ribs I4 and post [5 to adequately support the desired weight and to withstand the shock to which it may be subjected.

As will be noted particularly in Figure 4, the

and; am inwardly: and: downwardly inclined-1 flange I] is carrieckby theiinner-periphery of theringlike body Hi1. v.'Ihe:*o1:lterface.- lti. or. the: flange. l1 is:inclinedat; properly, selected: angle to return the end. convolution.- larof the'asupporting spring 20' to; its. normal: or: proper circumference when the; ring-like body: In; is: placed: upnrrv the; end. of the: spring: 211:. aimannenwhereby the bottom face I6 ojf th'e bodyilfl. engages thestop face. of the convolution I19 and the: inclined: face. it: enages; the. inner face. Off the. convolution." I29: In Figure; 4.- theoriginal normal positionv of: the convolution lilgis: 'shown1.in..dottted lines, and the sagged. position of? the.- convolution i9 is: shown in full. lines; Itiw'illz benote'dabyconsid'erin'g: Figure. 4, that the originat'diameter or the. upper convolution [9 shown in dotted lines is in vertical alignment with the corrected full line position. The upper convolution I9 is shown in full lines returned to its proper and corrected circumference by means of the inclined face l8 of the flange IT. The ring-like body [0 will there fore hold the end of the spring under a tension in tightly gripping contact with the under face E6 of the body l0 and the inclined face l8 of the flange IT. This will prevent rattle and will eliminate unnecessary noise which otherwise would be present. The size of therlng, its thickness, and the angle of the flange may be varied to suit the size, type and make of the supported body and springs which are to be corrected in order to compensate for the sag which normally may be expected in a coil spring before it settles to a normal heighth. The inclined flange I! will facilitate the fitting of the body In in engagement with the end of the spring 20. As the flange I1 is inserted into the upper convolution i9 and weight is placed upon the body II], the inclined face [8 will cause the convolution l9 to expand to its proper diameter where the convolution I9 will engage the flange I! under a tension and will also contact the under face N3 of the body In.

The spacer ring preferably fits upon the top of the spring 20 although if it is desired it may be used in an inverted position upon the bottom of the spring. It is preferable to use the ring upon the top of the spring. The conventional guide plate 2| may rest upon the body III, as shown in Figure 4, and the lugs or guide fingers such as the guide finger 22, shown in Figure 4, will abut the inner inclined face 23 of the flange I! thereby anchoring guide plate 21 and ring body I0 against shifting. The outer face of the finger 22, as shown in Figure 4, contacts the inner face of the convolution I9 when the'ring body In is not in position and the point of contact of the convolution I 9 with the face I8 of the flange I1 is in vertical alignment with the outer face of the lu 22 as shown in Figure 4 for the purpose as previously pointed out.

As shown in Figure 5, the angle of the flange I! of each ring-like body I0 will facilitate the stacking of the rings one upon the other so that the bottom face I 6 of the body I II will fit flat upon the top edges of the ribs I3 and I4. The flange I1 of the upper ring will then fit within the next below ring, the rings fitting in nested relation to facilitate packing, storage and shipping.

It should be noted that the spacer will rigidly hold the end of a coil spring against rattle or sound and will also provide a great saving in critical material in the construction of the spacer ring, as well as in the unnecessary replacement of springs. It is a well known fact that springs sag to a calculated or stabilized point during wear or use, and by raising the body contact point, the car upon which the spring is mounted will ride more evenly than would otherwise .be the case. It is well known that springs become settled after use and when they reach a stabilized heighth, the addition of a spacer ring of a selected thickness will return the supported body to its normal heighth which will then remain substantially constant. Also it is known that the alignment of the front end of a car changes when the springs sag, and therefore the angles of the front end suspension parts are brought :back to proper alignment when a spacer of a selected thickness is placed between the spring and the car frame or the lower control arm thereof.

It should be understood that certainldetail 4 changes of construction and design may be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention, so long as these changes fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new is:

1. A correcting spring aligning spacer ring comprising a rigid ring-like body having a deep annular channel formed in one face thereof, radiating ribs extending transversely of the channel and for the depth of the channel to reinforce the ring, and an inclined flange extending at an angle to the body around the inner periphery of the ring.

2. A correcting spring aligning spacer ring comprising a rigid ring-like body having a deep annular channel formed in one face thereof, radiating ribs extending transversely of the channel and for the depthof the channel to reinforce the ring, an inclined flange extending at an angle to the :body around the inner periphery of the ring, and said ribs having circular reinforcing posts substantially centrally of the channel.

-- BRENNER B. FOX.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,187,156 Johnson Jan. 16, 1940 2,229,354 Utz Jan. 21, 1941 2,395,949 Wilkins Mar. 5, 1946 2,567,594 Bruhn Sept. 11, 1951 2,578,137 Janeway Dec. 11, 1951 

